Eva Carneiro: Chelsea team doctor to be axed from bench after criticism from Jose Mourinho

Chelsea club doctor Eva Carneiro is unlikely to appear on the bench for Sunday's (16 August) game at Manchester City following criticism from manager Jose Mourinho.

The Blues boss blasted his medical staff as "impulsive and naive" for treating Eden Hazard late in the 2-2 draw with Swansea, when Chelsea were already down to 10 men following the sending off of Thibaut Courtois.

Carneiro's role in the club has been significantly downgraded in the aftermath of the incident, according to the Telegraph.

The report claims that the 41-year-old will remain Chelsea's first-team doctor, but she will not attend training sessions, matches or even enter the team hotel, and will only work with players at the Blues' Cobham training ground in Surrey.

Chelsea players were "genuinely shocked" to find out that her working regime will change, the paper said.

'Understand the game'

Carneiro, who joined Chelsea in 2009, thanked fans for their support following Mourinho's criticism in a Facebook post on 10 August.

"I would like to thank the general public for their overwhelming support. Really very much appreciated," she wrote.

Mourinho had told Sky Sports after the Swansea match: "Even if you are a kit man, doctor or secretary on the bench, you have to understand the game.

"You have to know you have one player less and when you go to the pitch to assist a player, you have to make sure your player has a serious injury.

"I was sure he hadn't a serious problem. He had a knock, he was very tired.

"But my medical department – on an impulse – was naive and left me with eight outfield players in a counter-attack after a set piece."